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Is Montgomery County reopening Friday, May 1?
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said Gov. Abbott's order was too vague, so he would allow all businesses to reopen. But Gov. Abbott already said he's issuing a clarification, and Judge Keough says he will enforce it.
AUSTIN - Just hours after Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough called Gov. Greg Abbott's new executive order vague, the governor tells FOX 26 that he will issue a clarification and "clear up that ambiguity."
Tuesday afternoon, Judge Keough posted a Facebook video to say that the Essential Services Order for Texas expires on April 30, and according to the governor's new order, there's nothing about salons, gyms, bars or barbershops having to remain closed.
On Monday, Gov. Abbott said these businesses would open in Phase 2 of his plan if there's no flare-up of COVID-19 cases in the first two weeks of May.
NEXT STEPS FOR TEXAS: Retail stores, restaurants, malls, movie theaters, churches can reopen on May 1
"The businesses that he said would be closed are not in his orders as closed," Judge Keogh said.
When asked about it, Gov. Abbott told FOX 26 that Judge Keough is a friend of his and he knows is trying to comply with the order.
"After he mentioned what he said, I actually went back and looked at the order and I can understand why he's saying it needs clarification so we will provide that clarification," said Gov. Abbott.
He says the clarification "will make clear the facts."
"It does say for hair salons, for gyms, for bars, for tattoo parlors, and things like that they, are not allowed to open," the governor said. "I can now see why the judge views the language as being ambiguous and we will clear up that ambiguity."
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Gov. Abbott gives clarification to Reopen Texas order
Hours after Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said Texas Gov. Abbott's new executive order to reopen the state was "unclear", "vague", and "inconsistent", the governor spoke with FOX 26 anchor Kaitlin Monte about providing new clarification on businesses that must remain closed, like gyms, barbershops, salons and bars.
The governor reiterated the businesses to open Friday are all retail stores malls restaurants movie theaters and museums and they all must limit their occupancy rate to 25%. Places of worship and doctors' offices can, too. Social distancing and taking sanitary precautions are still required.
Judge Keough says since the governor is clarifying the order, he will now enforce it.
Watch the full interview with Gov. Abbott below:
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One-on-one with Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Just days away before Phase One of reopening Texas on May 1, FOX 26 anchor Kaitlin Monte asked Gov. Greg Abbott about a possible clarification to the order, unemployment for businesses who don't wish to open, childcare, schools, immigrant resources and more.